Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest Indian Wells quarter-finalist for more than 30 years
Carlos Alcaraz has become the youngest ATP Indian Wells quarter-finalist since 1989 after he moved past Gael Monfils in the round of 16 in California.
The 18-year-old backed up his crushing 6-2, 6-0 win over compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut by nullifying Monfils 7-5, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
It means Alcaraz has become the youngest men’s quarter-finalist at Indian Wells since Michael Chang achieved the feat as a 17-year-old in 1989.
In addition, Alcaraz is into the last eight of a Masters 1000 event for the very first time.
Not only that, but he has set the mark in just his sixth main draw appearance, previously playing Miami, Madrid, Cincinnati, Indian Wells and Paris last year.
The teen’s previous best result at Masters level came at his most recent Masters event in Paris, losing to home talent and fellow ATP Next Gen star Hugo Gaston in the round of 16 there.
Next up, Alcaraz takes on either defending champion Cameron Norrie or another young rising star in America’s Jenson Brooksby.
Brooksby is himself enjoying a career-best Masters 1000 run, reaching the last 16 having never previously been beyond the second round at this level.
Earlier in the week, the 21-year-old downed world number five Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to record his first ever win over a top five, or for that matter top 10, opponent.
Alcaraz, who currently sits at a career-high ranking of 19th in the world, has all but guaranteed himself another new career-high by reaching the quarter-finals.
As things stand, the Spaniard will be world number 17 after Indian Wells unless Taylor Fritz progresses further than him in the tournament and/or Grigor Dimitrov claims the title and Alcaraz falls in his next match.
Should both those happen Alcaraz will remain at 19th in the rankings come the next update on Monday.
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